give ground

give ground
give ground
1. Lit. to retreat, yielding land or territory. •

I approached the barking dog, but it wouldn't give ground.

2. Fig. to “retreat” from an idea or assertion that one has made. •

When I argue with Mary, she never gives ground.

* * *
{v. phr.} To go backward under attack; move back; retreat. * /After fighting for a while the troops slowly began to give ground./ * /Although they were outnumbered by the enemy, the men refused to give ground./ Compare: DRAW BACK, DROP BACK, LOSE GROUND. Contrast: HOLD ONE'S GROUND, STAND OFF, STAND ONE'S GROUND, STAND PAT, STAVE OFF.

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • give ground — {v. phr.} To go backward under attack; move back; retreat. * /After fighting for a while the troops slowly began to give ground./ * /Although they were outnumbered by the enemy, the men refused to give ground./ Compare: DRAW BACK, DROP BACK, LOSE …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • give ground — Ⅰ. give/lose ground ► to become less popular or successful: »Smaller parties always lose ground in elections. give/lose ground to sb »The firm is continuing to give ground to its foreign rivals. Main Entry: ↑ground Ⅱ. lose ground …   Financial and business terms

  • give ground — index bear (support) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • give ground — phrasal : to withdraw before or as if before superior force : retreat as the Roman legions advanced to the attack, this center gave ground slowly Tom Wintringham the bond market is giving ground before the advance of the economy Paul Heffernan *… …   Useful english dictionary

  • give\ ground — v. phr. To go backward under attack; move back; retreat. After fighting for a while the troops slowly began to give ground. Although they were outnumbered by the enemy, the men refused to give ground. Compare: draw back, drop back, lose ground… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • give ground — move back, retreat, stop opposing someone He refused to give ground on his plans to change the system of office management …   Idioms and examples

  • give ground — to change your opinions or your demands in a discussion or argument so that it becomes easier to make an agreement. The dispute is set to continue for some time as neither side seems willing to give ground …   New idioms dictionary

  • give ground (to somebody) — give/lose ˈground (to sb/sth) idiom to allow sb to have an advantage; to lose an advantage for yourself • They are not prepared to give ground on tax cuts. • The Conservatives lost a lot of ground to the Liberal Democrats at the election.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • give ground (to something) — give/lose ˈground (to sb/sth) idiom to allow sb to have an advantage; to lose an advantage for yourself • They are not prepared to give ground on tax cuts. • The Conservatives lost a lot of ground to the Liberal Democrats at the election.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • give ground — ► give (or lose) ground retreat or lose one s advantage. Main Entry: ↑ground …   English terms dictionary

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